Convertible shipping container



Oct. 25, 1938. H. P. HUGHES 2,134,130

CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed 0012. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR,

HfCZOI Price My]? 65 v WOLW D- ATTORNEY.

Patented d. 25, 1938 2,134,130

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CONVERTIBLE snrrrmo. CONTAINER Hector Price Hughes, New London, Conn.,,as-

signor to Robert Gair Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1?. 1535, Serial No.. 45,401

6 Claims. (61.206-44) The present invention relates toari improved cessed, tray and goods supporting and display form of collapsible shipping container, made of .such paper board as fibre or corrugated board of, preferably heavy gauge.

One important improvement herein relates to providing for a double duty container, in which manufactured goods may be packed and shipped, in sealed condition within the container, and then the distributor can break the gummed seal,

flap being defined from'each panel and bent to overlap into a closing end assembly, well known to this art.

The top closing end, however, is so constructed that it may be converted into a, preferably remeans of a rigid nature.

The top end closing flaps are shown in Fig. l as being closed down and sealed, the outer flaps ,2 and 3, being held attheir meeting edges 4 by a gummed paper sealing strip, Fig. 1, said strip being indicated by the dot and dash lines i.

This strip is well known in this art, and to open the container an edged tool is drawn longi- 4, 5 and 6. Then, as in Fig. 4 closing flap 6 is similarly bent in with its iedgef X overlapping on its end with the end of associate ledge auxiliary 2m, and finally, flap 3 is similarly inwardly bent with its ledge auxiliary at right angles thereto, 5

10 rearrange the broken, open end closing flaps to tudinally of the strip between the ends 4, and 10 provide a sunken, keyed tray-like support, for flaps 2 and 3, are then pulled up as indicated in displaying some of the contents thereof, for sale Fig. 2. This exposes inner flaps 5 and 6, which or self-service. Thus the container has two iunomay also be opened up and some of the containtions, and is not immediately thrown away, but ed goods removed from the container.

is used as a display stand until all of its contents After the desired display quantity of goods 15 have been disposed of. have been removed, the key-lock panel 8, Fig. '7,

The foregoing, and other features of advantage and the advertising display panel l3l4, Fig. 10, will be apprehended as the herein description also carried in the container are also removed, proceeds, and it will be obvious that modificaand the open top end flaps 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the tions may be made in the structure herein withcontainer may then be converted into a rectangu- 29 out departing from the spirit hereof, or the scope lar recessed platform supporting ledge, upon of the appended claims. which a goods supporting platform may be placed In the drawings, to form goods display supporting panels and ad- Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are perspective views of 'vertising display means.

the convertible closure end of the container, Fig. As will be noted in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, each 1 being in sealed form, Figs. 5 and 6 being in end flap is traversed by a longitudinal score line, fragmentary form, showing in the successive to form auxiliary ledge forming extensions X, steps of conversion into a goods display supportthis indice being common to all of the ledge formv ing tray; ing auxiliaries. Flap 2, which is scored at d to 30 Fig.7 is a plan view of the key-lock panel; form a hinge line with its body panel B,'Fig. 2, Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7; ,is traversed by an unbroken score line 0, flap 3 Fig. 9 is a plan view of the converted tray end hinged at a to form a hinge line is traversed by of the container with the key-lock panel in p'osian unbroken score line b, flap 5 is traversed tion; an unbrokenscore line g, and flap 6 is traversed Fig. 10 is a plan view of a scored advertising by an unbroken score line e, being hinged at panel; score line I. a

' Fig. 11 is a side view of the panel of Fig. 10, When the flaps are in closed sealing position as bent on the score line into display position; and in Fig. 1, t e Score 111165 g a d e re u Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on broken and in this condition close the container 40 line l2 l2, Fig. 9,1ookingin the direction of the end. v 40 arrows. After the desiredv articles have been removed This container is easily madein automatic mafrom the container, flap 5 is bent inwardly 0n chines, and is shipped flat or knocked down, in its hinge score h, as in Fig.3, until it contacts bundles, to the consumer, and is readily, erected, with the inner face f y panel d the filled and sealed. auxiliary ledge member X is bent outwardly on 45 The container, generally denoted by I, all fig score line g at right angles thereto, Fig. 3. Then i ures, comprises the customary four body forming the next successive closing flap 2 is bent inwardpanels A, B, C and D, Fig. 1, the top and bottom ly in the same manner, and with the end of its ends, F andE respectively, being closed by hinged l d e auxiliary X fl y g o iated e end closing flaps of customary construction, one Of auxiliary ledge member as Shown n s- 5 the ends of the latter overlapping both of its adjacent, associate ledge auxiliaries 51: and 6x, as disclosed in Fig. 6.

Thus, as in Fig. 6, ledges 21:, 6x and 3a: are

overlaid at one of their ends by their next successive ledge members in the order above named. But ledge 52: is overlaid at its ends by the ends of its associate ledge members 2:: and 3x, and thus becomes the key member for looking all of the ledge members in horizontal position under load. As disclosed in Fig. 6, the ledge members are only frictlonally held, and now require to be locked in operative ledge forming position.

To this latter end, the key-lock panel, shown in Figs. 7 and 8 comprises a fiat blank 8 of paper board, preferably of the same gauge and strength of the board used in the container. The same blank 8 has two slots 99 cut therein, at one edge thereof, and parallel to one another. These slots are of sufficient depth and width to permit the entry thereof of the key ledge 51, from its front edge 1. The slots define, between them three extensions III, II and I2, the outer, extensions |0l2 being of like dimensions and of approximately the same width as the ledges 2a: and 3:.

The middle extension ll ofpanel 8 is of slightly lesser width than the space between the opposed ledges 3a: and 21:, and thus the front of the extension ll may be entered under ledge 52:, while the extensions Iii-I2 are kept on the top of ledges 3:: and 2x, and then the panel is pushed completely home, the slots 9-!! permitting the entry of the ledges 21, 3:1: and 5x, as the panel I is moved in the directionof the arrow ll, Fig. 12, the three extensions thus oppositely clamping. and locking ledge 5:; to the two superposed ledges 3a: and In, these latter, in turn, lockingall of the other interconnected ledges X. The panel I also forms a false platform as it rests upon all of the ledge corners, as in Figs. 9 and 12.

When in use as a. display container an advertising display panel, Figs. 10 and 11 is provided the panel being divided by score line i, Fig. 10, thus defining an advertising section l3 and a base section I, when section i4 is bent at right angles to section l3, as in Figs. 11 and .12, wherein, in the latter figure, the use of the display panel is shown in diagrammatic form.

With the display panel arranged as in Fig. 12, goods may be placed on base section It, thus to weight the panel, which further, has the'added function of strengthening the platform portion of the tray forming panel 8, against its superimposed display load.

As will be noted from the foregoing description, this container is sealed inthe usual manner, and

I thereafter, when set up as a display stand, the

over folding of the flaps 2, 3, 5 and 6, to form the walls of the recessed display portion leave the edges of the display device at the hinge scores a, h, d and f with smooth edges, there being no raw or cut edges exposed, thus enhancing the appearance of the stand.

as the displayed goods are disposed of, the contained goods are readily accessible, as the advertising and lock panels are easily removed and the stored goods asrequired, removed from the con- .tainer, in desired quantities.

'Having thus described the invention what is turned inwardly and engaging thev inner face of the associated wall; each portion having an extension, there being score lines between the said portions and their extensions, said extensions being turned into positions at right angles to said portions so as to provide a continuous inner ledge: said extensions including an under supporting member; and a goods supporting panel having its outer margins substantially resting on said ledge, said panel having in one of its margins a pair of slots which provide a medial end portion said latter portion heir" disposed below said under member.

2. In combination with a container comprising four vertical walls each having integral therewith and disposed below the top thereof within the carton a horizontal member, said members having their ends overlapped in substantial alternate relation so as to provide a ledge, one member being lowermost; a rectangular panel forming a platform and locking said members; said platform having a medial portion of one of its straight margins disposed below said lowermost member, the corner portions of said margin being seated above the ends of said lowermost memher, the other three straight margins of the platform being disposed above the other three members of the ledge and seated thereon.

3. A container comprising four coacting vertical walls having top end hinged flaps in which are unbroken scores defining on their opposite sides base portions and flap extensions, said flaps forming a horizontal closure flush with the ends of said walls; whereby when the closure is opened the flaps may be turned into the open end of the .container and broken on said scores so that the extensions may then form a sunken ledge at right angles to the base portions.

" hingedly turned into the open end of the container, so as to engage the base portions against the inner faces of the walls thereat, the flaps being turned on said lines so that the extensions may form a sunken ledge at right angles to said base portions.

5. A combination shipping case and dispensing stand made of stiff paper board comprising four walls having a bottom and a top including opposed single under hinged flaps and opposed single outer hinged flaps having meeting edges and forming a closure level with the ends of the walls in the shipping case position; said flaps having therein weakening score lines which define base portions and flap extensions, whereby after the closure is opened the flaps may be swung into the open end of the case so as to engage the base portions against the inner faces of the walls thereat, said flaps being then bent on said lines, the extensions being turned to form a horizontal .ledge, the ledge members being projected uniformly partly towards the center whereby to provide a reduced central dispensing opening.

6. A combination container and display stand comprising a body including four walls having a bottom and top end hinged flaps forming a closure level with the ends of the walls in the container position, said flaps having therein weakening line defining on their opposite sides base portions and flap extensions; a rectangular panel for providing a goods supporting platform and having in one of its end margins, on opposite sides of a medial portion thereof, two slots; whereby after the container is opened and some of the contents removed the flaps may be swung into the open end to engage the base portions against the inner faces of the walls thereat, the flaps being then turned on said lines to place the extensions 10 at right angles thereto in the form of a. sunken ledge, the members of the ledge having their ends substantially alternately overlapped, one of said members being lowermost; said panel being then inserted between said base portions, the medial margin portion being disposed below the correspending part of the lowermost ledge member, the other marginal portions of said panel being disposed above the other parts of said ledge.

micron P. HUGHES. 

